Frequently Asked Questions
School Psychology Doctoral Program
For Prospective Students
What degree is required for licensure as a School Psychologist?
Per the Tennessee Board of Education, licensure as a School Psychologist requires completion of a
graduate program at the Ed.S. (currently TSU offers programs in the M.S. or Ph.D. in school psychology) or
Ph.D. level in school psychology consistent with the knowledge and skills required for licensure and National
Association of School Psychologists (NASP) guidelines, full-time internship over one academic year of halftime internship over a period of two consecutive years.
What is required for application?
Ph.D. School Psychology
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TSU graduate application
Official GRE or MAT scores sent directly to the graduate office
Three letters of recommendation
o Recommendation forms are available online at www.tnstate.edu
Transcripts from all previously earned degrees or course work
Receipt of payment for $25 application fee* (Paid to the Bursar’s Office)
*subject to change, please check website for current fee(s) schedule
What is the Deadline for Applicants?
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The Ph.D. School Psychology concentration program only admits students once a year in the Fall.
The application deadline is
o Fall: December 1
Where do I send my application?
Please send all application materials to the TSU Graduate School office. Application, receipt of
payment for application fee, letters of recommendation (in envelope with signature across seal), should be
submitted in one packed to the TSU graduate school office. GRE and MAT score must be sent to the TSU
graduate school office by the respective test company.
How will I know if I have been admitted to the program to which I applied?
When the TSU Graduate School office has received a complete application it is sent to the School
Psychology Program Coordinator for review by the School psychology Candidate Selection Advisory Council.
The School Psychology Program Coordinator will contact applicants via email t o inform them of application
status. An official letter will be sent to the applicant by the TSU Graduate School office.
How long does it take to complete my degree?
In order to obtain the Doctorate of Philosophy in Psychology in School Psychology a student must
successfully complete the following:
1. A minimum of sixty three (63) semester hours of approved course work for the School Psychology
concentration beyond the master’s degree.
2. A residency consisting of two (2) consecutive semesters of full time enrollment (a minimum of 9 credit
hours per semester).
3. A written qualifying examination.
4. A written comprehensive examination
5. An approved internship
6. A dissertation
The program generally takes about four (4) years to complete, except if the student has a specialist degree,
Ed.S., of which it takes two (2) years to complete.
Can I work full-time and take classes at the same time?
The graduate programs at TSU are designed for students who are employed full-time. Classes are
offered Monday-Thursday at 4:40 pm and 7:50 pm. Please note that practica and internships are exceptions.
These classes require students to engage in field placements during the hours of 7:30 am until 4:40 pm.
Is the job market favorable for School Psychologists?
Yes, the job market is very favorable for school psychologists.
What do School Psychologists Do?
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School psychologists work to find the best solution for each student and situation; they use different
strategies to address student needs and to improve school and district-wide support systems.
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School Psychologists work with students individually and in groups. They also develop programs to
train teachers and parents about effective teaching and learning strategies, techniques to manage
behavior at home and in the classroom, working with students with disabilities or with special talents,
addressing abuse of drugs and other substances, and preventing and managing crises.
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In addition, most school psychologists provide the following services: Consultation, Evaluation,
Intervention, Prevention, Research and Planning
Are there any classes offered on-line or on weekends?
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Currently, classes are offered in the classroom only. Two classes are offered in a weekend session
format.
In which building are the school psychology offices located?
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The Queen Washington Building- 2nd floor
Are graduate assistantships available?
Graduate assistantships are available for students of the M.S and PhD concentrations. The TSU
financial aid office is devoted to helping students identify scholarships and loans.
School Psychology Doctorate of Philosophy – Course Offerings per Semester
Course #
Course Name
Credit Semester offered:
Hours
Fall, Spring, Summer
EDCI 6300
Multi-Cultural Education
3
Fall, Spring & Summer
PSYC 6430
History and Systems of Psychology
3
Fall
PSYC 6900
Role & Function of the School
Psychologist
3
Fall
PSYC 7136
Statistics & Computer Applications
3
Fall
PSYC 7137
Advanced Statistics & Research
Methods
3
Spring
PSYC 7150
Change Process – Theory, Research,
& Efficacy
3
Spring
PSYC 7160
Pre-Practicum
1
Fall
PSYC 7170
Social Psychology
3
Summer
PSYC 7255
Psychopathology
3
Summer
PSYC 7256
Assessment of Psychopathology
3
Fall
PSYC 7260
Practicum
1
Spring
PSYC 7465
Doctoral Practicum in School
Psychology
3
Fall
PSYC 7466
Doctoral Practicum in School
Psychology
3
Spring
PSYC 7555
Individuals: Assessment, Theory, &
Intervention
3
Spring
PSYC 7556
Couples, Families & Systems:
Assessment, Theory, & Intervention
Supervision: Assessment, Theory, &
Intervention (PSYC 6470
Individual Assessment and Report
Writing-PREFERRED)
3
Summer
3
Fall/Spring
PSYC 6920
Psychological Disorders in Children
3
Spring
or
or
PSYC 7730
Qualitative Research
PSYC 7710
Psycho Educational Assessment
3
Spring
PSYC XXX
Specialty Guided Elective (PSYC
6940 Consultation in the School)
3
Spring
PSYC 7557
Highly Recommended
PSYC XXX
Specialty Guided Elective (PSYC
6930 Alternatives to Standardized
Assessment) Highly
Recommended
PSYC 8110
Dissertation Research
3
Fall
6-15
Fall, Spring, Summer
*Before you enroll in a summer session,
make sure the faculty on your committee
will be on campus in the summer.
PSYC 8105, 8106,
8107
School Psychology Doctoral
Internship
0
Fall, Spring, Summer
*Please ensure that summer hours are
available at your placement site if you plan
to enroll in a summer session
Frequently Asked Questions
School Psychology Doctoral Program
For Current Students
When do I complete my Program of Study?
Typically, the program of study should be completed after a student has completed 9 hours of course
work and before he or she completes 15 hours.
When should I apply for the qualifying exam?
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When you have completed between 12 and 21 semester hours
When should I apply for the comprehensive exam?
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When you have passed the Quals
When you have completed both semesters of doctoral level statistics
When you have completed all core courses,
o Completed 75% of major courses and 75% of elective courses
When should I apply for Doctoral Practicum?
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After you have taken the pre-practicum and practicum courses
How should I apply for practicum?
o Process depends on where you conduct your practicum, different school districts may have
different deadlines.
 Nashville Metropolitan School District (METRO)
 Email Lisa Long about your interest in conducting your practicum with Metro and
they will mail you an app packet that you mail back, this should be done by
March or April to start in the fall
Internship (Ph.D.) Information
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A 2000 hour (minimum) (1 year) pre-doctoral internship is required of the Ph.D. in the School
Psychology concentration.
o Placement of our students in acceptable internships has traditionally occurred, however,
obtaining an internship is based upon a national selection process and the University does not
guarantee the availability of or selection for an internship.
Internship Eligibility
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Successfully complete all field experiences
Portfolio Reviewed and Passed
Pass the PRAXIS 2
Pass the EPPP practice exam
To be eligible for internship, Ph.D. students must pass the PRAXIS 2 (Criteria set by Tennessee
State Department of Education), pass the Program administered EPPP practice exams, have
finished and passed all required field experiences and have their portfolio reviewed and passed.
o While we encourage all students to have all their coursework completed, it is possible for
students to enroll in internship while taking one or two psycho-educational foundation courses.
Additionally, while we encourage all students to have completed and successful defended their
dissertation prior to enrolling in internship, with the approval of their advisor students may
complete their dissertation while enrolled in internship.
Supervision
o Ph.D. students must receive at least 2 hours of field-based supervision per week from a Ph.D.
level Psychologist with appropriate credentials (i.e., licensed/certified). In order to meet
licensure requirements this supervision should be provided by more than one credentialed
psychologist.
Hours
o Students must complete a 2000 hour internship. The experience may occur on a full-time basis
over one academic year or a half-time basis over two consecutive academic years.
Setting
o While the internship setting may include some work in non-school settings, at least 600 hours
must be completed in school settings.
What items are required for licensure?
1. Educational Specialist Degree (EdS)- An EdS degree is the entry level degree for licensure as a
school psychologist in the state of Tennessee. Currently TSU only offers the M.S. and Ph.D.
programs
**(Please note that a Masters degree is required for application to the Ph.D. program)**
2.
PRAXIS II exam in School Psychology- Successful completion of the PRAXIS II exam is required
for licensure as a School Psychologist, per the state of Tennessee. To take the praxis tests, you must
register online with Educational Training Service (ETS) or call ETS at 1-800-772-9476 for
registration materials.
**When registering for any Praxis testing for Tennessee, please provide ETS with your social
security number. This will create a file of scores within the Tennessee Department of Education.**
updated 4.22.11